Making the best of whatever happens in life

Early on the morning of September 3, 1983, my soon-to-be-wife, Linda, received a call from St. Louis, that, her parents, Ann and Tony, had been in an auto accident and her father, was in the hospital.

Linda and I were living in Los Angeles and were to be married a week later on September 10th. Her parents, sisters and brothers were all coming to the wedding.

As Linda hastily prepared to leave for St. Louis to be with her parents, it was obvious that they would not be able to be with us on our special day.

Suddenly, I had an idea.

“Linda, if your parents can’t come to the wedding, we’ll take the wedding to them!”

With our formal clothes packed we flew to St. Louis and on Monday, September 5, 1983, with her family all present, at his hospital bedside, Tony Saputo gave his precious daughter’s hand to me in marriage.

A dear friend of the family, Fr. George, officiated, the most unusual, but very special ceremony.

Then, five days later on Saturday, September 10, 1983, we were married again, as planned, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood, California.

Neither any of our friends nor Fr. Chris, who married us at the church, knew we had already exchanged vows!

(May I also proudly share that our older son, Joseph and his bride Noelle were married this year in the very same church.)

And so, 31 years later, as we celebrate our “anniversaries”, I thank God for bringing me the love of my life, my beautiful Linda. I continue to cherish the life we share.

Making the best of whatever happens in life can often set the stage for the rest of your life.

Sonny Melendrez is an award-winning inspirational speaker, Hall of Fame radio/TV host, and author of “The Art of Living with Enthusiasm!” Sonny speaks at conferences and universities about “the power of living, giving and leading with enthusiasm”. Visit his website at SonnyMelendrez.com.